Oil burner

ABSTRACT

A liquid fuel oil burner of the type including an outer tubular housing including discharge and inlet ends and through which combustion air is blown under pressure with a tubular body disposed within the discharge end of the housing or tube and enclosing an axial discharge atomizing nozzle for liquid fuel and spaced ignition electrodes. The end of the tubular body corresponding to the discharge end of the housing is open and encloses the aforementioned nozzle and electrodes. Further, the discharge end of the housing includes a vaned turbulator ring of the tapering type for causing the air being discharged between the body and the housing to swirl about and toward the center axis of the housing. Disposed immediately outwardly of the discharge end of the housing is a secondary air turbulance developing plate in the form of an annular member whose inner peripheral marginal portion is registered with the annular spacing between the housing and body and includes further vanes inclined in the same direction as the vanes of the ring and are angularly displaced about the center axis of the housing so as to bridge across the angular spacing between adjacent vanes of the turbulator ring. Also, the nozzle and ignition electrodes are supported within the body for at least slight axial adjustment relative to the latter and the turbulator ring and the turbulator plate is also supported for axial displacement relative to the turbulator ring and body, independent of axial adjustment of the nozzle and the electrodes.

United States Patent [191 Tickell, Sr.

[ 1 Mar. 26, 1974 4] OIL BURNER [76] Inventor: Arthur J. Tickell, Sr.,PO. Box

3616, New Haven, Conn. 06525 [22] Filed: June 27, 1972 [21] Appl. No.:266,724

[52] US. Cl 431/350, 431/183, 431/265, 239/402 [51] Int. Cl. F23d 13/24[58] Field of Search 431/183, 265, 350, 351; 239/402, 406

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,994,461 3/1935 Boland431/183 3,007,515 11/1961 Furdock 239/406 3,254,846 6/1966 Schreter eta1. 239/406 2,496,775 2/1950 Cadella 431/265 3,694,135 9/1972 Dancy eta1 431/265 Primary Examiner-Carroll B. Dority, Jr. Attorney, Agent, orFirm--1-1arvey 13. Jacobson; Clarence A. OBrien [57] ABSTRACT A liquidfuel oil burner of the type including an outer tubular housing includingdischarge and inlet ends and through which combustion air is blown underpressure with a tubular body disposed within the discharge end of thehousing or tube and enclosing an axial discharge atomizing nozzle forliquid fuel and spaced ignition electrodes. The end of the tubular bodycorresponding to the discharge end of the housing is open and enclosesthe aforementioned nozzle and electrodes. Further, the discharge end ofthe housing includes a vaned turbulator ring of the tapering type forcausing the air being discharged between the body and the housing toswirl about and toward the center axis of the housing. Disposedimmediately outwardly of the discharge end of the housing is a secondaryair turbulance developing plate in the form of an annular member whoseinner peripheral marginal portion is registered with the annular spacingbetween the housing and body and includes further vanes inclined in thesame direction as the vanes of the ring and are angularly displacedabout the center axis of the housing so as to bridge across the angularspacing between adjacent vanes of the turbulator ring. Also, the nozzleand ignition electrodes are supported within the body for at leastslight axial adjustment relative to the latter and the turbulator ringand the turbulator plate is also supported for axial displacementrelative to the turbulator ring and body, independent of axialadjustment of the nozzle and the electrodes.

3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures (ML BURNER The burner of the instantinventionhas been specifically designed to provide a burner structurethat will develop maximum heat obtainable from a given amount of liquidfuel. The invention is best adapted to oilburners having a firing rateof .6 to 1.20 gallons per hour, but is not limited to this range. ltisintended for oil burners of the pressure atomizing type, wherein air issupplied by a blower through a tubular draft tube or housing fittedcentrally with a fuel line terminating in an atomizingnozzleandan'electric igniter mounted adjacent the atomizing nozzle.

Conventional pressure atomizing burners ofthis genera] construction arealso known as gun burners" to the trade.

Over the years, many different types of burners have been designed toaccomplish a desirable mixture of air and oil or other liquid fuelsoasto obtain the most efficient flame at an acceptable noise level. Tosecure the best results, it is proposed that a precise control of thestatic pressure within the draft tub! or housing is of great importanceand that the shape of the resulting flame, if variable, can be tailoredto fit the combustion chamber.

It is the main object of this invention to provide a burner which willbe capable of obtaining precise control of the static pressure withinthe draft tube or housing and which will also include adjustmentstructure whereby the shape of the flame developed can be tailored tofit the combustion chamber in which the burner outlet is disposed.

Another object of this invention is to provide a burner in accordancewith the immediately preceding object and which basic structuralcomponents may comprise substantial duplicates of existing gun burners."

A still further object of this invention is to provide a burner inaccordance with the preceding objects and constructed in a mannerwhereby any necessary or desirable adjustments in the axial positioningof the nozzle and electronic igniter within the blast tube as well asthe axial adjustments to the secondary turbulator ring may be readilyaccomplished from the exterior of the blast tube at a point spacedaxially therealong in an upstream direction from the discharge end ofthe blast tube.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein isto provide an oil burner which will conform to conventional forms ofmanufacture, be of simple construction and dependable in operation, soas to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long lastingand relatively trouble free in operation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a gun burner" constructed inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view, takensubstantially along a plane passing through the longitudinal center lineof the blast tube of the burner;

the instantinvention. The burner l0 includes a blower housing l2provided with atangential hollow discharge duct portion 14 over whoseoutlet end an end wall '16 is secured. The end wall 16 includes acentrally disposed endwise outwardly projecting blast tube or housingl8.anda shieldtube 20 is disposed withinthe outlet end of the housing18. The shield tube 20 includes a tapering discharge end 22 andan*outer.turbulator ring24 having spiral vanes 26 which support theturbulator ring 24 from the tapering dischargeend 22 of the shield tube20. The ring 24is secured in the outer end of the blast tube or housing18 in any convenient manner.

A burner headreferred to in general by the reference numeral 28 includesahollow conical body 30 whose major diameter end portionis telescopedover the inlet end 'ofthe shield tube 20. Further, a pair of generallyparallel tubular insulators 22 open into the conical body 30 on oppositesides thereofand at an elevation spaced above a horizontal planeextending along the center axis of the body 30. A liquid fuel line 34extends into the concial body 30 along its center axis and an atomizingnozzle 36 is carried bythe discharge end ofthe fuel line 34 in thetaperingdischarge end 22 of the shield tube 20. Electrodes 38 extendthroughthe tubular insulators 32 and include angulated forward endportions projecting toward each other so as to terminate in closeproximity to each other and at an elevation spaced slightly above thenozzle 36 within the tapering discharge end 22 of the shield tube 20.The tubular insulators 32 are supported from a bracket 40 carried by thefuel line 34 and the entire burner head 28 is supported by means of atransversely extending support bracket 42 having one end secured to thefuel line 34 and the otherend secured to a sidewall portion 44 of thedischarge duct portion 14 by means of a threaded fastener 46 threadedlyengaged with the adjacent end of the support bracket 40 and passingthrough a slot 48 formed in the side wall portion-44. Accordingly, thefastener 46 may be loosened and the entire burner head 28 maybe shiftedaxially of the. blast tube or housing 18 relative to the turbulator ring24.

A secondary turbulator plate 50 is provided and is in the form of anannular plate secured to a pair of diametrically opposite guides 52 bymeans of fasteners 54 and which are slidingly received through guidepassages (not shown) formed through the turbulator ring 24. The rearends of the guides 52 are interconnected by means ofa support ring 55and a control rod'56 extending longitudinally through the blast tube orhousing 18 is provided with its forward end secured to the ring 55 andits rearward end provided with a right angulated portion 58 slidinglyreceived through a second longitudinal slot 60 formed in the side wallportion 44. The rightangulated end 58 is secured to a follower 62rotatably journaled on the axially shiftable shaft portion 64 of amicrometer referred to in general by the reference numeral 66 journaledfrom a mounting bracket 68 carried by the side wall portion 44. Thefollower 62 is disposed between a pair of abutments 68 and 70 secured tothe shaft or shank portion 64 for rotation therewith and accordingly itmay be seen that the micrometer 66 may be manipulated to effect axialshifting of the control rod 56 and thus the secondary turbulator plate50 supported therefrom. The turbulator plate, as hereinbefore set forth,is annular and its inner periphery includes generally radial slitsdefining spiral vanes or blades 74 spaced circumferentially about theinner periphery of the ring 55. The blades 74 are slightly angularlydisplaced about the center axis of the blast tube or housing 18 inrelation to the vanes 26 of the ring 24 and thus the vanes 74 bridge thecircumferential spacing between adjacent vanes 26. Of course, the vanes74 are angled in the same direction as the vanes 26.

In operation, initial basic adjustment of the burner head 28 isaccomplished by means of the fastener 46 and slot 48. Thereafter, thesecondary turbulator plate 50 is axially shifted by means of themicrometer 66 to the position thereof wherein maximum combustion of agiven amount of fuel is provided. By means of the axially adjustablesecondary turbulator plate 50, precise swirling of the combustion airinto and about the conical spray discharge of liquid fuel from thenozzle 36 may be effected. In addition, according to the combustionchamber shape, size and the existing draft conditions of the blast tubeor housing 18, the shape of the flame resulting from combustion of thefuel being discharged from the nozzle 36 may be tailored to fit thecombustion chamber. When the secondary turbulator plate 50 is correctlypositioned relative to the discharge end of the housing 18 and theturbulator ring 24, it is disposed in a position no greater thanone-quarter of an inch outwardly of the end of the turbulator ring 24.When the ultimate adjustment of the turbulator ring 50 has beenaccomplished, a portion of the burning fuel is swirled back through thefuel being discharged from the nozzle 36 resulting in substantiallycomplete combustion of the liquid fuel discharged from the nozzle 36.The turbulator rings 24 and 50 are each provided with eight vanes thatcause the air being discharged from between the ring 24 and the taperingdischarge end 22 of the shield tube to be swirled about the discharge ofliquid fuel in a clockwise direction. The center of the secondaryturbulator ring 50 is open to allow the cone discharge of liquid fuel topass through the ring 50. When the turbulator ring 50 is in its closestproximity to the turbulator ring 24, the greatest static pressure isapplied to the vanes 74 of the plate or ring 50, thus causing a largerquantity of the air being discharged from the blast tube or housing 18to move along the center axis of the cone discharge of fuel from thenozzle 36 resulting in a long narrow flame. As the secondary turbulatorplate or ring 50 is moved away from the turbulator ring 24, the staticpressure is relieved proportionately by air moving around the perimeterof the secondary turbulator plate 50 and the flame is retained closer tothe nozzle 36.

It has been found that burners utilizing the secondary turbulator plate50 are capable of burning fuel oil with a 13 percent CO flue gas contentand with a very low soot deposit with the resultant flame being verystable during varying draft conditions. Further, operation of a burnerequipped with the secondary turbulator plate or ring 50 is quiet.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur in those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In a fluid fuel burning apparatus, a tubular housing including inletand outlet ends and adapted to convey combustion air to a combustionchamber with which the outlet end of said housing is communicated,hollow air flow deflecting body means within the outlet end portion ofsaid housing and spaced radially inwardly from the side wall portions ofsaid housing to define an annular air passage between the opposing innerand outer surface portions of said housing and body means, the end ofsaid body means corresponding to the outlet end of said housing beingopen and having fluid fuel outlet nozzle means generally centeredtherein and opening outwardly through the open end of said body means,primary turbine vanes supported in and spaced circumferentially aboutthe discharge end of said annular air passage, a flat annular turbulatorplate supported from said housing and spaced slightly outwardly of theoutlet end thereof, said plate including secondary turbine vanes spacedcircumferentially about its inner periphery in registry with thedischarge end of said air passage, whereby the combustion air beingdischarged from said annular air passage will be acted upon first bysaid primary turbine vanes while still in said air passage andthereafter by said turbulator plate secondary turbine vanes after havingbeen discharged from said passage, means supporting said plate from saidhousing for limited adjustable shifting along the longitudinal axis ofsaid housing and relative to said fuel outlet nozzle means and the outerperipheral portion of said plate being at least substantially free ofair flow passages formed therethrough and extending radially outwardlyof the radially outermost portions of the discharge end of said annularair passage, the radial innermost portions of said secondary vanes beingspaced closer to the center axis of said annular air passage than thecentral circumferential zone of said annular air passage.

2. The combination of claim 1, whereby said primary turbine blades arecircumferentially spaced apart about said air passage, said secondaryturbine vanes being equal in number to said primary vanes and beingarranged so as to be generally axially aligned with the spacing betweenadjacent primary turbine vanes.

3. The combination of claim 1, wherein the outlet end of said airpassage is defined between inwardly tapering inner surface portions ofsaid housing and inwardly tapering outer surface portions of said body.

1. In a fluid fuel burning apparatus, a tubular housing including inletand outlet ends and adapted to convey combustion air to a combustionchamber with which the outlet end of said housing is communicated,hollow air flow deflecting body means within the outlet end portion ofsaid housing and spaced radially inwardly from the side wall portions ofsaid housing to define an annular air passage between the opposing innerand outer surface portions of said housing and body means, the end ofsaid body means corresponding to the outlet end of said housing beingopen and having fluid fuel outlet nozzle means generally centeredtherein and opening outwardly through the open end of said body means,primary turbine vanes supported in and spaced circumferentially aboutthe discharge end of said annular air passage, a flat annular turbulatorplate supported from said housing and spaced slightly outwardly of theoutlet end thereof, said plate including secondary turbine vanes spacedcircumferentially about its inner periphery in registry with thedischarge end of said air passage, whereby the combustion air beingdischarged from said annular air passage will be acted upon first bysaid primary turbine vanes while still in said air passage andthereafter by said turbulator plate secondary turbine vanes after havingbeen discharged from said passage, means supporting said plate from saidhousing for limited adjustable shifting along the longitudinal axis ofsaid housing and relative to said fuel outlet nozzle means and the outerperipheral portion of said plate being at least substantially free ofair flow passages formed therethrough and extending radially outwardlyof the radially outermost portions of the discharge end of said annularair passage, the radial innermost portions of said secondary vanes beingspaced closer to the center axis of said annular air passage than thecentral circumferential zone of said annular air passage.
 2. Thecombination of claim 1, whereby said primary turbine blades arecircumferentially spaced apart about said air passage, said secondaryturbine vanes being equal in number to said primary vanes and beingarranged so as to be generally axially aligned with the spacing betweenadjacent primary turbine vanes.
 3. The combination of claim 1, whereinthe outlet end of said air passage is defined between inwardly taperinginner surface portions of said housing and inwardly tapering outersurface portions of said body.